The 7 wonders of the world are brief but clear. A brief history of the seven ancient wonders of the world (8 photos). Great Wall of China in China
The Seven Wonders of the World are the oldest architectural monuments, which are rightfully considered the greatest creations of human hands. The number 7 was chosen for a reason. It belonged to Apollo and was a symbol of completeness, completeness and perfection. At the same time, the traditional genre of Hellenistic poetry was the glorification of a list of the most famous cultural figures - poets, philosophers, kings, generals, etc., or outstanding architectural monuments.
The first mentions of the Wonders of the World are found precisely in this era, when the victorious troops of Alexander the Great had already marched across Europe. The wide dissemination of Greek culture in the territories that were part of the states that the great commander conquered ensured the great popularity of individual monuments and architectural structures. But it should be noted that the “selection” of miracles occurred gradually. Some names replaced others, and today the list of the most majestic works of art and architecture includes:
Briefly about everything
Historians and scientists believe that the most ancient is the first attraction - Egyptian pyramids. A distinctive feature of this Wonder of the World is that it is the only one that has survived to this day in almost its original form. The construction of the Pyramids of Giza dates back to approximately 1983 BC, and the largest structure of the complex is the tomb of Cheops.
The rest of the Wonders of the World were not so lucky, and only the ruins of some of them have survived to this day. Eg, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which were created in the 6th century BC, were destroyed by floods in the 2nd century. But even the dilapidated remains of this majestic structure are breathtaking.
Statue of Zeus from Olympia, created around 435 BC. by the famous ancient sculptor Phidias, burned down almost a thousand years later in Constantinople. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was erected in 550 BC, but after two centuries it was also destroyed by a severe fire.
Halicarnassus Mausoleum created by the architect Pytheas in 351 BC. In 1494, earthquakes occurred in southwestern Turkey, after which only the foundations and architectural fragments of the structure were preserved. Concerning Colossus of Rhodes, built at the beginning of the 3rd century BC. Greeks, it fell as a result of a series of powerful earthquakes somewhere between 224 and 225 BC.
Alexandrian lighthouse, built in the 3rd century BC. at the direction of the ruling Ptolemaic dynasty, it is the pinnacle of engineering and technical thought of that time. The structure lasted until 1480, providing reliable lighting to the coastal waters. In the 15th century, the lighthouse was partially destroyed by an earthquake.
We can talk endlessly about each of the Seven Wonders of the World. Any schoolchild knows about them. Ancient epics and ancient legends are associated with them. Each of them is covered in a shadow of mystery and uncertainty. But one thing can be said with all confidence - these are the most significant monuments of civilization of all that humanity has managed to create.
The primacy of compiling a list of the 7 Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is attributed to Antipater of Sidon, who sang them for centuries in his poem:
I saw your walls, Babylon, on which there is spacious
And chariots; I saw Zeus at Olympia,
Miracle of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Colossus of Helios
And the pyramids are the work of many and hard labors;
I know Mausolus, a huge tomb. But I just saw
I am the palace of Artemis, the roof raised to the clouds,
Everything else faded before him; outside Olympus
The sun does not see beauty equal to it anywhere.
At different times, with the construction of new buildings, they tried to change the list of 7 wonders of the world of antiquity, but in the final version, only the Lighthouse of Alexandria appeared among the new ones, which eclipsed the greatness of the walls of Babylon.
Some include here all the pyramids of Egypt, some of the great pyramids of Giza, but for the most part only the largest of them, the Pyramid of Cheops, is perceived as a miracle. The pyramid is also considered the oldest miracle on the list - its construction is estimated to be around 2000 BC. Despite its old age, this is the only structure of the 7 old wonders of the world that has survived to our times.
Created by order of the king of desert Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar II, for his wife, these gardens were supposed to comfort and remind her of her distant homeland. The name of Semiramis, the Assyrian queen, appeared here by mistake, but, nevertheless, was firmly entrenched in history.
The statue was created for a temple in the major religious center of Ancient Greece - Olympia. The giant Zeus of the sculptor Phidias amazed the local residents so much that they decided that Zeus himself personally posed for the master.
In the ancient large port city of Ephesus, the goddess of fertility Artemis was especially revered. In honor of her, a huge and majestic temple was created here, which was included in the list of 7 ancient wonders of the world.
The rich king Mausolus wished to erect a mausoleum-temple in Halicarnassus, incomparable in beauty. The best craftsmen of that time worked on the construction. The work ended only after the death of Mavsol, but this did not prevent him from going down in history forever.
In honor of the great victory, the inhabitants of Rhodes decided to build a huge statue of the god Helios. The plan was carried out, but this miracle did not last long, and was soon destroyed by an earthquake.
To navigate ships near the large port of Alexandria, it was decided to build the largest lighthouse at that time. The building immediately eclipsed the walls of Babylon and took a place on the list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Modern man has the power to do a lot: people conquer outer space, reveal more and more mysteries of nature - it’s impossible to list everything. It is increasingly difficult to capture the imagination of modern man, because before his eyes the most daring dreams ever created by uncontrollable human imagination are being realized.
However, what today seems like an extraordinary miracle and the pinnacle of creative thought, after a few decades will become as ordinary and familiar as, for example, television for you and me now. Nevertheless, there remain things that can surprise regardless of time, which in many generations will be looked at with admiration and, probably, awe, just as they are today. You probably guessed what I'm talking about "Wonders of the World".
As you know, there were seven wonders of the world, which are now commonly called “wonders of the ancient world.” Only one of them has survived to this day - the legendary pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Therefore, on the initiative of the Swiss Bernard Werber, a project was organized to determine which of the existing structures and attractions are worthy of being called “wonders of the world.”
The non-profit organization New Open World Corporation conducted a worldwide vote in which more than 90 million people around the world took part. From several dozen applicants for the title of one of the seven wonders of the world, winners were selected, and the results of the competition were announced in Lisbon on July 7, 2007, the “day of three sevens.”
So, we invite you to look at photos of the new seven wonders of the world, and also read their brief descriptions:
Location: China
This is the largest architectural structure in the world; the length of the wall is 8851.8 kilometers. was built to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire from raids by nomads. Today the wall is rightfully considered one of the greatest structures ever built by man. It is the most visited attraction in the world - more than 40 million tourists a year come to the country to see the Great Wall of China with their own eyes. By the way, one of the sections of the wall runs near the capital of China - Beijing.
Location: Italy, Rome
This is the largest of the ancient Roman amphitheaters, a full-fledged symbol of the Eternal City, perhaps the most recognizable architectural monument in the world. Its second name - Flavian Amphitheater - was received in honor of the Flavian dynasty, which then ruled in Ancient Rome and organized the construction of the amphitheater. For a long time, the Colosseum hosted gladiator fights and other entertainment spectacles for guests and residents of Rome.
Location: Peru
The legendary ancient city of the Incas, located in the territory of modern Peru. Machu Picchu received the nickname “city among the clouds” due to its location - it is located on the top of one of the mountain ranges, at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level. The city was built by the Inca ruler Pachacutec as an imperial residence - a “sacred mountain refuge.”
Location: Jordan
The famous stone-hewn city of Petra, located in what is now Jordan. The city is located in the Arava Valley, in the Siq canyon, surrounded on all sides by steep cliffs. You can enter the valley only through narrow gorges, which are a kind of gateway to the city. Most of the city's buildings are carved out of red sandstone cliffs - even the city's name "Petra" translates as "rock". More than half a million tourists a year come to see the mysterious city made of stone. By the way, the final scenes of Steven Spielberg's famous film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade were filmed here in Petra.
Location: India
The Taj Mahal mausoleum-mosque made of white marble is located in the city of Agra in India, on the banks of the Jamna River. This is a real pearl of the Muslim world, the best example of architecture of Indian, Persian and Islamic styles. The magnificent mausoleum was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in honor of his wife who died in childbirth.
According to one legend, an absolutely identical building made of black marble was to be built on the opposite bank of the river, and a bridge made of gray marble was to connect them. Today, the Taj Mahal is visited by millions of tourists a year, it undoubtedly deservedly took its place on the list of the new seven wonders of the world.
Location: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro
The next wonder of the world is the magnificent statue of Christ the Redeemer on top of Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The statue is considered a symbol of Rio and all of Brazil and is one of the tallest sculptures in the world. The height of the statue is 38 meters, the arm span is 30 meters, the weight of the statue is 1145 tons.
Location: Mexico, Yucatan
The ancient city of Chichen Itza is the political and cultural center of the Mayan state, located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. According to archaeologists, Chichen Itza was one of the religious centers, the so-called “places of power” of the Mayan culture.
Location: Egypt
Formally, the Pyramids of Giza are not among the seven new wonders of the world, but are present here as a non-competitive, honorary candidate. The Egyptian pyramids are the only one of the seven wonders of the ancient world that have survived to this day. Excursions to the pyramids are regularly conducted from the capital of Egypt and are very popular among tourists.
There are many mysterious and enigmatic places in the world. But only a few of them are recognized as genuine miracles, which had no equal on Earth! From this article you will learn which of the 7 wonders of the world have survived to this day, and which have sunk into oblivion forever. We present to your attention the 7 wonders of the world - the list consists of the following items:
This exclusive complex is included in the list of 7 wonders of the world. The basis of the Gardens of Babylon was a monumental building with four tiers, erected in the shape of a pyramid. Hanging greenery combined with fountains and ponds turned it into a real oasis. According to an ancient legend, these gardens were created for the wife of the Babylonian ruler Nebuchadnezzar II named Amytis.
To maintain the green miracle in a viable state, a large amount of water was required. The problem was solved at the expense of human resources, or rather, slave labor. The slaves continually rotated a wooden wheel to which leather wineskins were tied. This wheel took water from the river (according to another version, from some underground sources). Water was pumped to the very top tier, and from there flowed down through a complex system of numerous channels.
After the death of the ruler Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon for some time became the residence of Alexander the Great. After the death of the great commander, the city gradually began to fall into disrepair; the Gardens of Babylon were also left without proper care. After some time, a nearby river overflowed its banks, which led to the erosion of the foundation of the building.
Pyramid of Pharaoh Cheops
This existing geographical feature, which is also one of the 7 Wonders of the World, is sometimes called the Great Pyramid of Giza. It serves as the tomb of the Egyptian ruler Cheops (Khufu). The pyramid was erected near Giza, a suburb of Cairo. To create this miracle, it took the joint efforts of 100 thousand people. According to archaeologists' calculations, the work lasted about twenty years.
Zeus statue in Olympia
A truly monumental structure was erected in honor of the Thunder God. The Temple of Zeus was entirely built of marble, including even the roof. Along the perimeter of the sanctuary there were 34 columns made of limestone. The walls of the temple were covered with picturesque bas-reliefs depicting the labors of Hercules.
But the list of 7 wonders of the world included not the temple complex, but the statue of Zeus. The ancient Greek sculptor Phidias worked on bringing this masterpiece to life. The body of the god was created from ivory; a great many rare gems and about 200 kg of gold without the slightest admixture of ligature were also used to decorate the statue. The Thunderer's eyes seemed to flash lightning, and his head and shoulders shimmered with an unearthly light.
According to legend, lightning struck the center of the marble floor of the temple. This was regarded as an expression of approval from Zeus. An altar made of copper was erected at the site of the impact. The statue of Zeus was destroyed in a fire that occurred in the temple in 425. There is another version, according to which it was transported to Istanbul, where the figure of the Thunderer burned down in 476.
The ancient city of Halicarnassus was famous for the residences of nobles, theaters and green gardens. But the list of 7 wonders of the world does not include these architectural beauties, but the tomb of the cruel ruler Mausolus. The mausoleum had 3 levels, the total height of the building was 46 meters. This man-made masterpiece combines several architectural styles.
Traditional columns, as well as statues of horsemen and lions, were used to decorate the mausoleum. At the very top there was a sculpture of King Mavsol, proudly seated in a horse-drawn chariot. The mausoleum stood for about 19 centuries; the cause of its destruction was a strong earthquake. An interesting fact is that some of the fragments of the mausoleum were used to build the fortress of St. Peter.
The Faros lighthouse was built in the 3rd century BC, it is also included in the world famous list of 7 wonders of the world. This facility was supposed to help sea vessels safely overcome coastal reefs and avoid shipwrecks. During the day, the sailors were guided by a column of smoke, and at night they could navigate by the flames.
The Alexandria lighthouse rose 120 meters above sea level, its signals could be seen at a distance of up to 48 km. The upper part of the structure was decorated with a statue of Isis-Faria, who was revered as the patroness of sailors. To make the flow of light as efficient as possible, the builders used an original system of curved mirrors.
The Faros lighthouse, like many other objects from the list of 7 wonders of the world, was destroyed in a rather trivial way. It was destroyed by a powerful earthquake that occurred in the mid-14th century. Scientists discovered some fragments of the Alexandria lighthouse on the seabed during research in 1996.
The Colossus of Rhodes
This statue was made in honor of Helios (the sun god). It was assumed that the height of the figure would be 18 meters, but later they decided to make it 36 meters. The statue in the form of a youth god was cast from bronze and was located on a marble pedestal. Construction took place on a hill created artificially. There were stones inside the figure, which was done to increase the stability of the structure.
The sculptor Hares, who worked on the Colossus of Rhodes, made a miscalculation in determining the amount of materials needed. The master had to borrow a lot of money to be able to complete his masterpiece. Hares was completely ruined and surrounded by creditors, the sculptor committed suicide.
The Colossus of Rhodes was destroyed by an earthquake that occurred in 222 or 226 BC. The statue broke at the knees, and its fragments continued to lie in place for about 1000 years. Fragments of the Colossus were sold by the Arabs, who captured Rhodes in 977. To remove parts of the sculpture, it was necessary to equip a caravan consisting of 900 camels.
By the way, have you ever wondered why there are only seven wonders of the world? In this case, we recommend that you read the article “” - and the secret meaning of this “lucky” number will be revealed to you!
The familiar concept of “Seven Wonders of the World” was born in ancient times, more than 2 thousand years ago. Since then, it has united famous creations of ancient architecture.
Let's remember what is included in these “miracles”. After all, they have practically not survived to this day.
Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt
The only exception is the Cheops pyramid. It is already 4.5 thousand years old, but it still impresses with its grandeur. Construction took place over 20 years, and tens of thousands of Egyptians and slaves took part in it. Another hundred thousand were busy delivering blocks. Construction was completed around 2560 BC.
The pyramid consists of - as calculated today - 2.5 million blocks. The most amazing thing is that they are not held together by cement or any other binder. They are held together by tightly fitting each other. Now the top of the Cheops pyramid has been destroyed. Previously, its height was 147 meters.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon in Iraq
The next miracle is the “Hanging Gardens” of Babylon. Their purpose was to please the beauty, the wife of King Nebuchadnezzar P
The gardens rose in four tiers. From a distance it seemed that they were rising above the ground. In fact, it was very difficult to build structures in which, like in huge pots, not only flowers and shrubs, but also trees would grow. Both stones and lead plates were used. It was also necessary to bring and pour here a fairly large layer of fertile soil.
It is not surprising that in arid Babylon such an oasis seemed like a real miracle.
Zeus statue in Greece
In Greece there was a third “miracle” - a statue of Zeus. In the 5th century BC. a temple was built here in honor of the most important Greek god. Naturally, there was a statue of him inside the temple. The 20-meter tall Zeus sat on the throne, overwhelming the believers with his magnificence. This was not just a sculpture. The wooden body was covered with ivory. The god's robe naturally shone with gold.
Temple of Artemis in Turkey
Where modern Türkiye lies, in ancient times there was a temple of Artemis. It was built in the 6th century. BC. by order of King Croesus. The greatness and power of the goddess was to be emphasized by her statue. The basis of production was ivory. And also 127 high columns, as if supporting a huge structure.
The temple was burned in 356 BC. But he remained forever in people's memory.
Mausoleum in Halicarnassus Türkiye
The next “miracle” was again located in Turkey. This is the mausoleum at Halicarnassus. It became the tomb for Mausolus, the ruler of Caria, who lived in the 4th century BC. This structure, although inferior in height to the Cheops pyramid, still reached a significant height - 46 m. It was framed by columns, and crowned by a sculpture of a chariot.
Colossus of Rhodes in Greece
The sixth “miracle” can be called the statue of the Sun God - Helios. Its other name is the Colossus of Rhodes. This statue stood in Greece in the 3rd century BC. So the Greeks decided to thank their beloved god. They believed that it was Helios who helped them survive the fight against the invaders and survive the siege. In the hand of the young god there was a torch, as if lighting the way for ships sailing to and leaving the port of Rhodes. Six and a half decades later, the statue was destroyed by an earthquake.
At the moment they want to restore the statue to attract tourists.
By the way, in the famous series “Game of Thrones” there is a similar sculpture
Alexandria Lighthouse in Egypt
The world also lost the seventh “miracle” as a result of the shaking of the soil. This is the Lighthouse of Alexandria, which in the 3rd century BC. was in Egypt, on the island of Pharos. For that time it was a huge tower. According to historians, its height reached 120 m. But even more amazing was the way in which the lighthouse sent light to ships. At its top, servants kept the fire burning, and specially made metal mirrors directed the light into the distance.
Sailors located 60 km from the port saw a distant spark in the night. It was a fire burning on top of the lighthouse. The most difficult task was to deliver enough wood for the fire. Carts and mules were used for this purpose. They went up the spiral staircase.
The series “Game of Thrones” also played up their own version of the Alexandria Lighthouse
Even now, thousands of years later, we respect these creations by the hands of ancient masters. What can we say about how their contemporaries perceived them! Indeed, these were miracles, there is no better way to say it.
New "Seven Wonders of the World" of the modern world.
Since almost all of these incomparable creations have been lost, the Swiss Bernard Weber proposed implementing the “New Seven Wonders of the World” project. The results were announced on July 7, 2007. Magic number "7".
Great Wall of China in China
Of course, the Great Wall of China, which at one time protected the state from nomads, could not give the palm to anyone. The wall was also supposed to unite the empire, which had just been formed, to help unite its people.
Construction lasted many years, in difficult conditions, when there were no roads and there was a shortage of necessary materials. But the result was great. There is no other architectural structure like this on our planet. The wall stretches for 8851.8 km. Every year over 40 million tourists come to see this miracle.
Amphitheater Colosseum in Italy
The largest amphitheater, the Colosseum, which survived from the times of Ancient Rome and now constitutes one of the main attractions of Italy, also enjoys well-deserved fame. The name "Colosseum" also comes from the word "colossus". To the Romans, the amphitheater seemed truly huge. After all, at that time the buildings reached a height of 8-10 m. Against their background, the Colosseum looked majestic. Once upon a time, thousands of guests flocked here to watch the famous gladiator fights.
Ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu Peru
On the territory of the present state of Peru is the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu. Its location is unique - on the tops of the mountains, in the heart of the inaccessible Andes. Despite all the achievements of science, the secrets of Machu Picchu have not yet been fully solved. It is also called “the city among the clouds” and is associated with the name of the ruler Pachacutec. The residence of the ruler, located at an altitude of 2450 m, was inaccessible to enemies. And to those who were on earth, it seemed that it was fitting for the ruler to live next door to the gods. Most likely, the city was built in the 15th century. Even today you can come there along the path of ancient pilgrims, you just need to be prepared for the fact that the hike will take several days.
But you will see a majestic sight - mountain peaks and an ancient city. Beautiful llamas graze here.
Ancient city - Petra in Jordan
Another ancient city, Petra, is located in what is now Jordan. The peculiarity of this city is that it is carved from stone. Otherwise it would have been impossible to build it here in the Siq Canyon. Bare rocks, steep cliffs, narrow gorges - such a panorama opens up to the eyes of tourists. But people lived and fought with enemies here too. Truly, a person is capable of inhabiting any place!
Taj Mahal Temple in India
Compared to this ascetic shelter of ancient people, the Taj Mahal temple in India seems to be a symbol of beauty and harmony. There is probably no better creation in Indian architecture. This temple is a mausoleum. It was built by order of Emperor Shah Jahan. His beloved wife unexpectedly died during childbirth, and the inconsolable husband decided to perpetuate her memory in this way - by erecting a most beautiful temple. Today there is no tourist coming to India who would not like to see the Taj Mahal. This temple is located in the city of Agra.
Statue of Christ in Brazil
The sixth of the new wonders of the world was the statue of Christ in Brazil. On Mount Corcovado, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, the merciful Lord stretched out his hands over the people. This is Christ the Redeemer. It is symbolic that when thunderstorms rage here, the statue is often struck by lightning. After all, it is the highest point in the surrounding area. The height of this figure is 38 m, and it weighs more than 1145 tons. After a lightning strike, it is necessary to repair the damage caused to the reinforced concrete sculpture. Since they could not create such a huge figure in Brazil, they made the sculpture in France. They delivered it to Brazil in parts.
The seventh miracle was another ancient city of Chichen Itza. It belonged to the Mayan Indians and is located in Mexico. It was here that the Mayans gathered for prayers, and here, like nowhere else, they felt the presence of God. And today people feel awe when approaching the pyramids that were built by representatives of an ancient civilization. The most famous is the El Castillo temple in honor of the god Kukulkan.
All these sights, which only recently received the proud status of “New Wonders of the World,” have long become genuine treasures of our cultural heritage. The flow of tourists eager to see these wonderful places with their own eyes does not dry out. And it is gratifying that the “baton” of the ancient “miracles” has been taken up by no less wonderful, but accessible for viewing, “new miracles”.
